Agenda and draft minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)   disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Lennox Beattie, Executive and Regulatory Manager, Blackpool Council or their own Council’s Monitoring Office in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

If the discussion during items 9,10, 11 or 12 of this agenda involves the disclosure of “exempt information”, as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and the Board wishes to move to confidential session, it may at any point pass the following resolution:  “That the public and press be excluded from the meeting whilst the agenda item(s) is/ are considered, on the ground that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in category 3 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, including the authority holding that information) of Part 1 of Schedule 12(a) of the Local Government Act,  1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Variation Order 2006 and, that in the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information”.

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting whilst the agenda items 9,10 or 11 are considered, on the ground that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in category 3 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, including the authority holding that information) of Part 1 of Schedule 12(a) of the Local Government Act,  1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Variation Order 2006 and, that in the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Following the previously appointed Vice-Chairman no longer being a member of the Board, to consider the Appointment of a Vice-Chairman for the remainder of Municipal Year 2020/2021

The Board considered the appointment of a Vice-Chairman for the remainder of Municipal Year 2020/21.

Resolved:

That Councillor Lynn Williams be appointed Chairman for the remainder of Municipal Year 2020/21.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 16 September 2020 as a true and correct record.

The Board considered the minutes of the last meeting held on 16 September 2020.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2020 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the meeting held on 16 September 2020 not dealt with elsewhere on the agenda.

Further to item 5, Full Fibre Network on the minutes of the 16 September 2020 meeting. The Board noted that Fylde Borough Council and Wyre Borough Council had now joined the Broadband Co-op. The Board noted that this would be beneficial for future connectivity and agreed to receive a further update on the progress made by the co-op at a suitable meeting in 2021.

To receive a brief verbal presentation from Sarah Kemp, Chief Executive Officer, Lancashire Enterprise Partnership on the work of the Partnership including the Independent Economic Review.

The Board received a presentation from Sarah Kemp, CEO of Lancashire Economic Partnership. She highlighted the following work being undertaken by that partnership.

Members of the Board thanked Sarah for the presentation. The general view of the Board being that th

The Board agreed that it would be beneficial to have regular presentations and also to share workplans.

To review the work of the Economic Prosperity Board(EPB) and priorities against its role and remit. Note at Agenda Item 12 the Board will further consider its future direction and priorities.

The Board undertook an exercise to review its work since its creation May 2018.

Mr Nick Gerrard, Growth and Prosperity Programme Director, presented the item. The report highlighted the four priorities agreed by the Board at its creation namely Accelerated Growth focusing on our Enterprise Zones, Connectivity, Marketing and Investment, and Housing Growth and Quality of Life.

The Board noted the agenda tracker and considered that these had meant for the past three years the Board had focussed almost exclusively on the first three of these priorities. Members accepted that a large part of the workload of the Board had been the Enterprise Zones as they developed.

Members of the Board considered that in the future the Board should while continuing to ensure good corporate governance for the enterprise zones. The board should look to also focus further on connectivity, and marketing and investment. Further to Item 6 it agreed to ensure where possible that linkages between the Board and partner organisations notably but not limited to the Department for International Trade,  Marketing Lancashire and the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership.

The Board considered the issue of housing. It agreed that there had been little collective focus it did however consider that with changes in planning proposed it may be that a further changes to the Memorandum of Understanding were reviewed so that three Councils could consider how where such issues were best to be considered.

Resolved:

To note the progress made by the Economic Prosperity Board and agree that the relevant Council’s review the Board’s  priorities.

To brief the Board as to High Speed Rail 2’s potential benefits and disbenefits for Fylde Coast Rail services and to recommend a position be taken in relation to the Golborne Link’s construction.

The Board received a report on the High Speed Rail 2’s potential benefits and disbenefits for Fylde Coast Rail services.

The Board noted that the current proposal had been subject to considerable pressure not to include a phase2b spur from Manchester to the Wigan area (known as the Golbourne Link). Without the Golborne link there appears little chance of maintaining direct Fylde Coast-London Euston services. The Golborne link is clearly important to the Fylde Coast as it offers capacity that might preserve direct services and would enable journey times between the area and major centres to be reduced.

The Board also noted that the removal of direct train services might be a negative factor for inward investment and tourism with some travellers unwilling to change trains.

The Board noted that removing the four a day direct Avanti departures from Blackpool North with stops at Poulton-Le-Fylde and Kirkham and Wesham would be a retrograde step, particularly following the lengthy campaign fought to restore these direct London services and the need for rail access to support post-pandemic economic recovery.

The Board agreed that it would be support lobbying for the retention in plans for High Speed 2 the Golborne Link and requested that the three Councils and partner organisations did likewise.

Resolved:

That the Economic Prosperity Board and the three Councils join Lancashire County Council and others, including the West Coast Rail 250 campaign, in supporting the High Speed Rail 2 Golborne link’s construction, maximising opportunities for direct Fylde Coast – London services to be retained when High Speed Rail 2 HS2 is in operation.

To update members on developments during 2020 and recommend a way forward to improve rail connectivity on the Fylde Coast.

The Board noted that a key aspiration of three Councils and the Board itself had been since its formation to propose substantial improvements to local rail networks and also see such improvements as essential in support of the Climate Change agenda.

The Board had received previously submitted or received information on bids that it had supported to the Transforming Cities fund and Future High Streets fund to support that strategic aim.

Mr Nick Gerrard, Growth and Prosperity Programme Manager, highlighted the bid that had been submitted to the Restoring your Railways Fund for work on the Fleetwood to Poulton-Le-Fylde line reopening. The Board noted that a consultant had been appointed and key stakeholders engaged to consider the develop of a Strategic Outline Business Case to identify whether tram, rail or a tram-train combination would be the best option for returning the line to use.

Mr Gerrard also highlighted to the Board that a further bid submitted by two local mp’s to the Restoring your Railways Fund titled ‘Enhanced existing passenger services, Preston - Blackpool South (South Fylde Line Passing Loop)’. While it was acknowledged that specific details were not available yet about the bid it represented an opportunity to progress matters.

The Board expressed its support for these bids and its commitment to seeking solutions to improve strategic transport connectivity.

Resolved:

1.      To reaffirm the Board’s support for improving strategic transport connectivity on the Fylde Coast through a Fylde Coast rail loop

2. To recognise that the two successful Restoring Your Railway bids for Fleetwood to Poulton-le-Fylde and the South Fylde Line provide the opportunity for a Strategic Outline Business Cases to be prepared to establish the basis for further requests for funding to implement the preferred schemes in due course.

3. To note that a consultant for the Fleetwood to Poulton-le-Fylde study has now been appointed by Lancashire County Council and work should be completed by May 2021.

4.  In respect of the South Fylde Line, to recommend that all key stakeholders are consulted in the development of the brief, namely Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Council, as the two local transport authorities for the South Fylde Line, Fylde Borough Council, the local MP’s, the Department for Transport, Network Rail and Northern Trains, together with others including town/parish councils and user groups.

5. To ensure that adequate funding is earmarked to undertake a Strategic Outline Business Case study for the South Fylde Line, similar to the one that is currently being undertaken for the Fleetwood - Poulton-le-Fylde  disused railway line.

6. To receive the outcome of the two studies in due course and then identifies the best route for securing funding for the implementation of the preferred options.

To receive a progress report on Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone.

To receive a progress report on Hillhouse Enterprise Zone.

Further to Item 7 to discuss future items for consideration by the Board.

To note the date of next meeting as Thursday 25 March 2021